Homicide cases trending downward in Oakland County so far in 2019

So far this year, 11 people have lost their lives at the hand of another in Oakland County.

The majority of the murders allegedly stemmed from domestic violence, which is typical for the county’s homicide cases.

Victims ranged in age from an unborn baby to 73 years old, and in only two cases the alleged killer has not been identified.

By comparison, Oakland County had 29 reported homicides in 2018, with 14 occurring in Pontiac. Of this year’s homicides to-date, three happened in Pontiac. A fourth Pontiac homicide victim, believed to have been killed last November, was identified in April when his decomposing remains were found.

Aileen Wingblad/Media News Group

Other Oakland County communities where homicides have been reported in 2019 are Troy, which had two, and Novi, Royal Oak, Commerce Township, Ferndale, Commerce Township, Waterford Township and Oak Park, which had one each.

Here are the victims, starting with the most recent:

• Lily Camara

Lily Camara, a 28-year-old Ferndale resident, was reported missing July 5 after not being heard from for three days. On July 7, Ferndale police said her body was found in another city and homicide is suspected. Her car has not yet been located.

• Michael Manley

Michael Manley, 40, was shot June 29 shortly before midnight as he sat in a car outside a residence in the 600 block of Newman Lane in Pontiac. He was pronounced dead after being transported to a local hospital. Witnesses say a man and woman were arguing outside the residence and at one point the man turned his aggression on Manley and shot him. Keandre Kevon Seay, 30 of Pontiac, was arrested two days later in Detroit and is charged with open murder for Manley’s death. He’s due back in court July 19.

• Dearrius Laster

Dearrius Laster was a 29-year-old Oak Park resident shot to death June 15 at his girlfriend’s home on Burton Street in Oak Park. Charged in the homicide is Devontae Bailey, 23, the brother of the victim’s girlfriend, who reportedly argued with the victim prior to the shooting.

Bailey is undergoing a court-ordered psychiatric evaluation and the case is currently under review pending results of the evaluation.

• JV Binkley

JV Binkley, 48 of Ann Arbor, was killed in a hit-and-run crash on May 24 in Troy. Police say he was a vending machine supplier attempting to make a delivery in the parking lot of Grace Hospice, 500 Kirts Blvd., when he was struck and killed. After a several-week investigation, police arrested Detroit residents Anthony Rene Griffin, 41, and Jerry Burton, 37, in connection with the incident. Griffin is charged with felony murder and failing to stop at the scene of an accident causing death. Burton is charged with felony murder. Investigators believe the two were getting ready to steal from Binkley’s truck when he was hit. Griffin was driving and Burton, believe to be his accomplice, was a passenger in the vehicle. The two are due back in court July 24.

• Mecca Ramsey

Mecca Shea Ramsey

Photo via Facebook

Mecca Ramsey, 41, was found shot to death in a restroom in the Night Rider’s Motorcycle Club in Pontiac on April 27. Charged in his slaying is Gregory Darnell Kincade, 42. Kincade is also charged with assault with intent to murder for the nonfatal shooting of a 37-year-old Pontiac man on the same date. Kincade has prior convictions for robbery and domestic violence. He’s due back in court July 30.

• Lanard Curtaindoll

Lanard Curtaindoll

Photo shared by Oakland County Sheriff's Office

Lanard Curtaindoll’s decomposing remains were found in a field in Pontiac on April 24. He had been shot once in the chest. Curtaindoll, 41, had been reported missing Nov. 25 and was the subject of several searches in the community. Charged in his murder is Kenneth Hawkins, 50, of Pontiac. He’s also charged with disinterment/mutilation of a body. His daughter, Lakeisha Hawkins, 24, is also charged with disinterment/mutilation of a body. Both are convicted felons and face several weapons charges, as well. Investigators believe Hawkins shot Curtaindoll at a club in Pontiac that was owned by his Lakeisha Hawkins, reportedly his former girlfriend. Kenneth and Lakeisha Hawkins are due back in court July 18.

• Tia Joe

Tia Joe, 21, was found dead from a gunshot wound April 7 inside her home in the 29000 block of Rousseau Drive in Novi. Her infant son was with her, unharmed. No arrests have been made.

• Cynthia Scott

Cynthia Scott, 61, was found dead March 20 at her home on Shelley Street in Troy. Police say her body was concealed under items and partially in a closet. She died of blunt force trauma to the head and chest. Scott’s son, Uriah Scott, 42, was arrested March 20 at a friend’s house in Oak Park and is charged with her murder. He’s due back in court Aug. 6.

• Beth Ann Alsup-Sudz

Beth Ann Alsup-Sudz

Photo provided by family

Beth Ann Alsup-Sudz, 56, was found dead March 18 at her home on Lockwood Drive in Waterford Township. She died from blunt force trauma and sharp force trauma to the head and face. Her husband, Thomas Paul Sudz, 72, survived an apparent suicide attempt by overdosing on drugs after allegedly killing her. He’s scheduled for a preliminary exam July 26.

• Thamina Chandler

Investigators say it was a murder-suicide that happened in the 3000 block of Timberlake Drive in Commerce Township. Thamina Chandler, 49, was found dead Feb. 25 on the floor of the master suite with a gunshot wound to the head. Her husband, James Chandler, 55, died of a drug overdose. Investigators say the couple had marital issues. A 9mm handgun was recovered from the master bedroom closet.

• Unborn child

An unborn baby died at six months gestation Jan. 19 after its mother was kicked in the abdomen by her boyfriend, Kahlil Ellison, at a home on Leonard Street in Pontiac. The incident stemmed from an argument after the unborn baby’s mother reportedly texted a girlfriend about her dissatisfaction about a sexual encounter she and Ellison had just had. Ellison, 23, who was the unborn baby’s father, pleaded no contest to one count of assault of a pregnant individual causing miscarriage or stillbirth and was sentenced in June to serve 135 months to 50 years in prison.

• Dennis Steward

Dennis Steward, 73, was found strangled to death Jan. 17 at his home in the 3700 block of Elmhurst in Royal Oak. His son, Dane Matthew Steward, 31, is charged in his murder. Dane Steward reportedly has a history of delusional and paranoid behavior from schizophrenia. He’s scheduled to return to court Aug. 19.